The incident occurred on Monday morning at approximately 8:30 am, according to Abdullahi Usman, a spokesman for the Taraba State Police Command. Usman said that the soldiers shot two police officers and took their rifles.
He added that some soldiers proceeded to the police command headquarters, firing shots in the air. One police officer going off duty was killed instantly, while another reporting for duty was shot after being identified as a policeman.
Usman further alleged that the police were being stopped and harassed at military checkpoints while escorting election results or performing other duties. He called for an investigation into the incident and said a commission of inquiry would be set up to determine its cause.
The incident has sparked tension between the police and the military, with the police accusing the soldiers of unprovoked aggression. The Taraba State Commissioner of Police, Yusuf Suleiman, and the Commander of the 6 Brigade, Brigadier General Frank Etim, have met and agreed to investigate the incident.
Killing police officers by soldiers is a severe offence threatening the country's security. It is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Nigeria. In August 2019, three police officers were shot and killed by soldiers in Taraba state while transporting a suspected kidnapper to Jalingo, the state capital. The soldiers claimed they mistook the police officers for kidnappers.
The incident has raised concerns about the need for better coordination and communication between the police and the military in the country. There have been several incidents in the past where security operatives have clashed due to a lack of coordination.
The Nigeria Police Force is the primary agency responsible for maintaining law and order, while the military is responsible for defending the country against external aggression. However, in recent years, the military has become involved in internal security operations due to the increasing threats from terrorism, banditry, and other forms of insecurity.
The incident in Taraba state highlights the need for better training and understanding between the police and the military to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. It also raises questions about the military's role in internal security operations and whether they should be limited to their primary responsibility of defending the country against external threats.
In response to the incident, the Nigerian Army has pledged to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice. In a statement, the Army said that it does not condone any act of indiscipline or lawlessness by its personnel and that it will not hesitate to take action against any soldier found to have acted outside the law.
The killing of police officers by soldiers is a worrying trend that needs to be addressed by the Nigerian authorities. The government must take steps to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future by improving the coordination and communication between the police and the military.
The incident in Taraba state serves as a reminder of the need for more excellent professionalism and discipline among security operatives in Nigeria.